UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
  • 4 new cases lead Marion to require masks after county again delays

    Hours after county commissioners once again delayed action on requiring face masks, four new COVID-19 cases were reported in Marion County. Mere moments later, the City of Marion stepped into the breach, bypassed the county, and involked its own mask requirement, virtually identical to what the county had sent back for a rewrite hours earlier. In the 25 days since the county initially used newly legislated powers to overturn Governor Laura Kelly’s statewide order for masks, the county's total number of COVID-19 cases has increased almost fivefold — from 11 to 49.

  • Both lakes under algae warnings

    Marion Reservoir and Marion County Lake are now under blue-green algae warnings. The lake has been subject to a warning for several weeks, but Thursday's announcement from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment elevated what had been only a watch at the reservoir to a warning. Statewide, six other lakes, including Cheney Reservoir, are under warnings. Eleven others, including Milford Lake, are under less severe watches. Watches on five other bodies of water were lifted Thursday.

  • ADVERTISING CORRECTION:

    Thrift shop open Saturday only, for now

HEADLINES

  • 102-year-old survives her 2nd pandemic

    A 102-year-old rural Tampa woman has survived two deadly pandemics: Spanish Flu, which struck Kansas in 1918 and COVID-19, which hospitalized her for six days. Frieda Bentz, the second-oldest COVID patient in the state, was too young when Spanish Flu hit to have any memory of it, but family history showed its severity.

  • County unmoved by soaring virus totals

    UPDATE: See breaking news for latest COVID-19 stories published after print deadline. By PHYLLIS ZORN Staff writer A new COVID-19 case reported Tuesday evening marked a threefold spike since county commissioners overturned a state mandate to wear masks in public where social distancing is not possible.

  • Tabor to isolate students at Salem

    A COVID-19 quarantine and isolation center for Tabor College students will be set up in the old Hillsboro hospital, 701 S. Main St., before students arrive Aug. 5. Hillsboro’s city council voted Tuesday to approve a memorandum of understanding needed by Tabor College to work with Mennonite Disaster Services in getting the isolation and quarantine center set up before classes open next month.

  • Cops avoid sending people to infected jail

    After an employee of the jail complex tested positive for COVID-19, Marion County jail once again is jailing only suspects whom law enforcement officers think must be jailed by state law requirements. But the jail and health officials apparently have not reached out to those who may have been processed through the jail while an employee at the complex was contagious.

  • Schools hope delay stands

    UPDATE: On a deadlocked vote Wednesday, the state board of education failed to endorse and thereby invalidated the governor's order to delay the start of classes. By ALEXANDER SIMONE Staff writer Marion County school districts are just a month from their planned start to fall classes, but that date is in jeopardy after Monday’s order by Governor Laura Kelly to postpone classes until Sept. 8.

OTHER NEWS

  • Grocers cope with masks, shortages

    Most of the staff and employees of area grocers are choosing to wear masks amid a surge in the number of cases in the county. Area businesses say they are trying to make their customers feel comfortable even as COVID-19 continues to stifle their supply lines keep and some goods off their shelves.

  • Marion looks to shift rec costs

    Marion city officials will meet with school officials to see whether the balance of who pays what share of recreation and pool costs can be changed. Unlike Hillsboro and Peabody, which have recreation commissions that cover their entire school districts, Marion has only a city rec program but shares some costs with the school district.

  • Merry-go-round ride cut short by injury

    A 12-year-old girl was taken to Newton Medical Center after falling off a merry-go-round at 8:30 p.m. Monday in Florence. The unidentified victim probably will need surgery, county ambulance director Travis Parmley said.

  • Will Alexa know who stole her?

    An Amazon Echo worth $120 remains missing after being reported stolen from an elderly Hillsboro woman’s home between July 5 and July 10. But Hillsboro assistant police chief Jessey Hiebert says it can be traced with the proper information.

  • Herington paper merges with Chapman paper

    The Herington Times has merged with the Dickinson County News-Times of Chapman. The move is “more economically feasible,” said David Parker, who owns the publications along with the Clay Center Dispatch and the Council Grove Republican.

  • Project's founders make big plans for small town

    A pandemic may have postponed its debut, but Flint Hills Counterpoint’s founders are using the time to build their dream. Susan Mayo has big plans for 14 acres north of Peabody even if she is disappointed by the forced cancellation of a lineup of summer events.

AUTOMOTIVE

  • Repair bills hidden cost of bad roads

    The poor condition of Marion County’s roads are hitting drivers with a hidden pothole tax of repair bills. Deep ruts and lack of crown damage a car’s tires and suspension while loose gravel can shatter windshields.

  • Mustang rides an anticipated treat for family

    Rosella Suderman and her now-deceased husband, Orval, purchased their Ford Mustang more than half a century ago, and bringing it out now to drive in notable events is a treat. One of those events was Hillsboro’s monthly cruise Saturday along Main St. The Sudermans had several family members piled in the vehicle, with several others waiting their turn beside Grandma Rosella.

DEATH

DOCKET

GOVERNMENT

  • Seasoned county employees vie for treasurer

    Two candidates are squaring off in this year’s race for the Republican nomination for county treasurer. One, Susan Berg, is a nine-year employee of the office and has been vehicle supervisor for the past six years.

  • Requests for absentee ballots explode

    Voters getting a jump on the Aug. 4 primary have swamped Marion County clerks with a record 1,032 requests for absentee ballots. That number represents a surge of more than 706% from 128 ballots issued in the 2018 primary and a 116% jump from 478 mail-in ballots given in the 2016 general election.

OPINION

  • Playing a game we almost always lose

    On shadowy urban street corners, scammers, con artists, flimflam folks, and supposed street magicians call it Find the Queen, Three-card Monte, or an old-fashioned shell game. Those of us in more bucolic settings have a different name for it: government budget hearings. Instead of a familiar cry of “Play ball!” officials typically start each year’s game by invoking some sort of a plea about mill levies.

  • Misinformation unmasked

    If it weren’t so tragic, the stupidity of our county commissioners would be humorous. No, wearing masks isn’t a personal choice. You don’t wear masks to protect yourself. You wear masks to protect others.

  • Recycling an old idea

    A tip of the hat — or, more appropriate, a smart military salute — this week to Dan Holub, one of best and most colorful former county commissioners. In his years of public service, Dan’s staunch conservative exterior often gave way to an inner liberal on several issues, including recycling, which was among his major causes as a commissioner.

  • ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

    Hens on maternity leave
  • CORRECTIONS:

    Corrections and clarifications

PEOPLE

  • Bond with dogs gives her strength

    Ruth Creamer of Ramona has owned several dogs in the 20 years since her husband died. Her three dogs are what keep her motivated every day now that she’s 90 years old. “They’re all that keeps me going,” she said. “If I didn’t have them waiting here at home, I don’t suppose I’d even go home.”

  • Museum to offer bierocks

    Goessel’s Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum will serve carry-out bierock meals for area-residents from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 1. Cost is by donation. New Year’s Cookies will be available by the half dozen with a suggested donation of $5, per half-dozen or $10 per dozen.

  • Kids can read to therapy dogs

    Children in first through fifth grades will have a chance to meet and read to stress therapy dogs from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at Peabody Township Library. Reservations are being accepted at ptl.childrens.library@gmail.com and (620) 983-2502.

  • Labor Day canceled

    Florence’s 2020 Labor Day celebration will be canceled because of COVID-19. Committee members hope the event will be back in 2021.

  • Peabody cruise Sunday

    Peabody’s next monthly cruise will be Sunday. U Knead It Bakery will serve breakfast burritos, cinnamon rolls, and pie.

  • Senior center to celebrate cowboys

    Marion Senior Center will observe National Day of the Cowboy this Friday. The center is encouraging patrons to dress in cowboy attire. County treasurer candidate Susan Berg spoke to seniors last week. Other candidates can schedule a time to speak by calling (620) 382-2942.

  • Senior center menus

  • ANNIVERSARY:

    Couple to celebrate golden anniversary
  • SERMON ON WEEK:

    Exploring the origin of separation of church and state
  • MEMORIES:

    10, 25, 40, 55, 70, 100, 140 years ago
  • MEMORIES IN FOCUS:

    Picture this: A time before pictures

SCHOOLS

  • College degrees and honors

  • Centre, Marion students honored for skills with ag

    Centre student Jensen Riffel and Marion students Peyton Ensey and Cassandra Meyer received Kansas Agriculture Skills and Competencies certificates last week from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Riffel, who graduated from Centre this spring as a state scholar, also has received the highest state FFA degree and a national FFA scholarship. He will attend Ottawa University and play football.

  • Warrior co-valedictorian blends love of sports, math

    Matthew Christensen has a month until his freshman year of college starts, but the Marion co-valedictorian’s interest in numbers started well before he had to choose a major. “I’ve really been good at math my whole life, ever since elementary,” he said. “My dream job is to be a sports statistician, so that’s one way I can tie my love for math and sports together.”

  • Sacrifice an important lesson for Trojan co-valedictorian

    As Hillsboro’s class president and co-valedictorian, senior Callie Arnold learned a valuable lesson this year in how many commitments is too many. “I learned, especially this year, that I can’t do it all,” she said. “There are some things you just have to relinquish for your own personal health.”

  • Team wins Hesston tourney

    Marion County’s 18 and under travel baseball team went undefeated Saturday and Sunday to win a Central Kansas League tournament in Hesston. The team was 5-0 in the tournament and came from behind to win in four of its five games.

MORE…

Email: | Also visit: Hillsboro Star-Journal and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin | © 2024 Hoch Publishing

 

 

 

BACK TO TOP